What's Next! with Tiffani Bova

A Masterclass on Asking Questions with Jeff Wetzler

May 23, 2024

Jeff Wetzler, Co-CEO of Transcend, shares insights on the power of asking questions. He discusses barriers to asking questions, quality question criteria, his five-step Ask Approach, and creating a culture of question-asking in organizations. The episode emphasizes the importance of building the question-asking muscle and creating safety for question askers.

26:47

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Episode guests

Jeff Wetzler

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Asking quality questions requires overcoming barriers like fear and lack of training, emphasizing the value of curiosity and safe communication environment.

Active listening is crucial in the question-asking process, highlighting the importance of understanding, learning, and reflecting on interactions for valuable insights.

Deep dives

Importance of Asking Questions

Asking questions is crucial for acquiring valuable insights and feedback that can lead to better decisions, innovation, and stronger relationships. The core message is that to truly understand what others think and feel, one must actively seek out their perspectives through meaningful questioning. Becoming a 'master asker' involves choosing curiosity, making it safe for others to share, and asking quality questions that facilitate learning.

Introduction

2min

The Art of Asking: Unlocking Insights and Building Relationships

11min

Strategies for Effective Note-Taking During Conversations

5min

Enhancing Questioning Skills in Different Scenarios

6min

Fostering a Culture of Asking Questions and Learning

2min

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.

I'm thrilled to welcome Jeff Wetzler to the show today. He is Co-CEO of Transcend, where he combines unique leadership experiences spanning more than 25 years in business and education as a management consultant to the world's top corporations. He’s also a learning facilitator for leaders around the world and the Chief Learning Officer at teach for America. Jeff is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is an Edmund Hillary Fellow. And he’s the author of a new book called Ask.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to learn how to ask the types of questions that will tap into the thoughts and insights of the people around them.

TODAY’S MAIN MESSAGE… each of us is surrounded by people in our lives - customers, investors, colleagues, managers, people we manage, friends - who are filled with ideas, perspectives, insights, and feedback that could be incredibly helpful to us. But too often, we never uncover these things because we don’t ask questions.

Key takeaways:

The key barriers to asking questions

Understanding what makes a clumsy question and what makes a quality question
Jeff’s five-step Ask Approach
The most high-leverage thing you can do as a listener
How leaders can implement this into the culture of an organization

WHAT I LOVE MOST… creating safety for a question asker. Question-asking is a muscle that needs to be built and for someone learning the skill, voicing those first few questions can be an uncomfortable or nervous experience. Jeff encourages everybody, especially leaders, to be considerate in how they answer questions so they can encourage more questions.

Running Time: 26:47

Find Tiffani Online:

Find Jeff Online:

Jeff’s Book:

Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs In Leadership and Life